Job Title: Project Support Officer
Contract: Maternity Leave Cover (12 months), Part-time (30 hours a week)
Location: Balsall Common, West Midlands
Department: Research & Development Department
Reports To: Operations Manager
Salary: £27,000 FTE
Deadline for applications: Thursday, 6th March 2025
Job Summary
We are looking for a Project Support Office to join our enthusiastic and supportive team on a part-time, fixed term basis. The Project Support Officer plays a vital role in supporting the management and delivery of the organisation’s core work. The role focuses on providing administrative, logistical, and coordination support to ensure that projects are completed successfully and align with the organisation's mission. This includes managing and preparing documentation, communicating with and coordinating high-profile stakeholders and faculty, and assisting in the organisation and smooth running of social impact activities (such as, training events and stakeholder meetings).
The Project Support Officer will play a key role in helping to achieve the organisation’s mission while gaining exposure to the inner workings of project management in a purpose-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
* Project Coordination:
o Assist in planning, coordinating, and monitoring the progress of a range of varied projects and initiatives.
o Support project teams with scheduling, meetings, resource management, and effective communication.
o Ensure projects align with the organisation’s mission and values.
* Documentation and Reporting:
o Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including project plans, timelines, meeting notes, and reports.
o Prepare and distribute regular project updates to internal teams and stakeholders.
* Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:
o Serve as a point of contact for the organisation’s stakeholders, faculty, and partners.
o Support effective communication across teams to ensure all project objectives are clearly understood and followed.
o Coordinate and organise meetings for stakeholders and faculty.
* Monitoring and Evaluation:
o Assist in collecting data for monitoring project progress and measuring impact.
o Support the evaluation of project outcomes, ensuring alignment with intended aims and long-term goals.
o Maintain records of outcomes and feedback to assist in the organisation’s impact assessment.
* Risk and Issue Management:
o Help identify potential project risks or challenges and escalate them to the team.
o Support the development and implementation of mitigation strategies to manage risks and challenges.
* Process Improvement:
o Assist in refining and optimising project management processes and best practices to improve efficiency and impact.
o Participate in reviewing past project outcomes and contribute ideas for improvements in future projects.
Person Specification
· Experience:
o Previous experience in project support, administration, or management. Desirable but not essential to have experience within a not-for-profit or social enterprise setting.
o Experience in working with diverse teams, including volunteers and stakeholders.
· Skills:
o Strong organisational and multi-tasking abilities to be able to successfully support several projects simultaneously.
o Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) for stakeholder engagement and report preparation.
o Proficiency with project management software (e.g. Trello) and Microsoft Office Suite.
o Experience with online survey tools (e.g. Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey) is desirable but not essential.
o Data analysis and interpretation is desirable but not essential.
· Knowledge:
o An understanding of the not-for-profit sector would be desirable but not essential.
o Knowledge about the maternity sector/ NHS is desirable but not essential.
Personal Attributes:
* Proactive and solution-oriented with a willingness to take initiative and prioritise effectively.
* Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in documentation, reporting and communication with external stakeholders and faculty.
* Flexible and adaptable, able to thrive in a dynamic and evolving work environment.
* Team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Working Conditions:
* Part-time (30 hours), maternity leave cover (12-months).
* Occasional travel may be required for meetings.
* Office-based (Balsall Common).